REAL UTILTY 🛠️ RWAs And NFTS #DREAMS #UDS

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Ugly Duck Society
@UGLYDUCKLABZJan 29, 2026

The Spaces convened core builders and community members around Ugly Duck Society (UDS), Order Mutants, and adjacent Web3 projects to compare notes on markets, scams, fundraising, IRL brand building, and community governance. Scrooge (UDS) and Jeff/Poisonous (Mad Bombs/Poisonous Punks) unpacked floor-price mechanics, why free mints and bot buyers depress floors, and how to counter quick flips. Several speakers detailed a persistent impersonation scammer pattern and shared due‑diligence habits. Project updates included UDS securing its 5th Drunken Lab location and expanding merch/fashion pipelines (NFC-enabled hats, varsity/leather jackets, runway concepts), Shiny Gal’s Nigeria-based humanitarian utility and sales done organically, and Order Mutants’ Bitcoin provenance, free-mint origins, game integrations and a floor-price target. The group debated host etiquette, seniority vs favoritism, and cross‑community support, and set a raffle for two Texas trip packages for recent minters. Practical segments covered merch operations (DTG vs DTF, embroidery, costs), licensing pathways (ApeChain/Board Ape collabs), tax and jurisdiction issues for charitable use, and the rising role of AI (voice/space pitching). The tone mixed candid market realism with builder resilience, emphasizing IRL brand assets, culturally inclusive storytelling, and disciplined community trust-building over short-term token speculation.

Ugly Duck Society Space: Community, Projects, Scams, Merch, IRL Expansion, and Raffle Plans

Who spoke and roles

  • Scrooge (host; founder of Ugly Duck Society, often referencing Mother Duck, the co‑founder)
  • Poisonous (Jeff; creator behind Mad Bombs/Poisonous Cherries; merch and IRL execution‑focused)
  • Anti (William; builder of Solana project Bull Bears; community supporter of Shiny Girl)
  • Jay Connects (creator/builder; frequent guest and collaborator)
  • Shiny Girl (Nigerian project founder; humanitarian utility focus; referenced throughout)
  • Order Mutants team (Bitcoin mutated apes; participants include Matthew, Seaside, and C Stacks; multiple voices represented)
  • Cybermoon (operations for raffles and events; co‑hosting logistics)
  • Mother Duck (referenced as UDS co‑founder and operator)
  • Community members and collaborators mentioned: Melissa, Josh, Jargon, Oliver (large holder/supporter), Digital X, Grape, Melody (Nigeria), General Maestro, Unboxing (India), Victus Global, Spirit Punks founder, Adam Weisman (VC), Aaron.

Note: Handles are used where legal names were not explicitly shared. Attributions reflect how speakers addressed one another in the space.

Quick IRL context and check‑in

  • Weather and logistics: Storm incoming (New York “tonight”), freezing temperatures, long lines at Costco for gas, chaotic shopping (Poisonous spent ~5 hours in a store fulfilling orders, DoorDash support issues, card glitches). Several had to cut spaces short the prior night.

Market and NFT Operations

Ugly Duck Society (UDS) on OpenSea and minting

  • Availability: UDS is minting live on the website (0.05 ETH) and is also tradable on OpenSea (secondary). One participant spotted a “too‑cheap” listing (~0.03 ETH) and nearly bought; Scrooge and Poisonous cautioned against impulsive “floors.”
  • Floor dynamics and bots: Poisonous explained that instant‑sell bot flows re‑list at ~half the prevailing floor, accelerating down‑pressure. Team discourages “flooring.”
  • Free mint effects: Scrooge and Poisonous emphasized that wallets holding free claims are more likely to undercut floors; paid mints have stronger holder conviction.

Brand vs mint revenue; IRL expansion

  • UDS IP is being used in a 5th Drunken Lab location (Atlanta referenced), demonstrating brand value beyond pure NFT sales. Scrooge framed this as “conviction”—investors look at IRL brand expansion and IP licensing even when primary NFT sales are modest.
  • UDS has sold ~330–350 NFTs over a year; much discourse attacks “utility but low sales,” yet Scrooge focuses on brand building, IP deployment, and IRL growth.

Shiny Girl: Utility, impact, and community support

  • Utility: Feeding hungry communities in Nigeria, building local infrastructure, teaching Web2/Web3 skills, offering land, and creating empowerment programs. The team emphasized this is “humanity investment,” not self‑enrichment.
  • Sales and payouts: ~800 NFTs sold organically. No “payouts” to team; only the artist was paid. Anti confirmed his genuine support (vs. performative “support”).
  • Operations costs elsewhere (Bull Bears context): Anti shared their Solana drop details—their mint was 0.35 SOL (some discounted WL at 0.25 SOL), ~2,000+ minted. With 5 artists, code integration, vault mechanics, staking/points models to let holders earn other NFTs—net profits are far smaller than topline suggests.
  • Nigerian community adoption: Multiple speakers lamented limited support from Nigerians despite a Nigerian founder achieving the “impossible” in CT (Crypto Twitter). Scrooge urged Nigerian participation (even modest purchase like ~$25) to own a piece of a movement that “defied gravity.”
  • Mental toll: Scrooge highlighted the emotional burden on Shiny Girl throughout the launch; supporters like Anti, Legup, and others were crucial.
  • Charity and tax: Participants explored whether tax‑deductible flows could apply via UDS’s IRL locations; cross‑border charity rules (US vs Nigeria) complicate deductions.

Scam Watch, Impersonators, and AI

  • Recurring impersonator (“monkey” persona) and a voice Scrooge/Poisonous recognized from prior scams (“tank” reference, repeated script lines like “internet’s out,” “X sucks”). Tactic: grand promises (buying 15–45 “MNFTs”), then deflection and future tense (“tomorrow”), never buying.
  • “Mutant name” listing at $295: Jay Connects and Poisonous debated a suspected OpenSea listing scam (mocked platform UI or cancellable listings; potential wallet drain attempts via bogus airdrops like otherdeeds). They observed a wallet that “shows 13 MAYC and 2 BAYC,” possibly Dubai‑based operators who target communities with small frauds ($500–$1,000) to sow distrust.
  • Advice: Verify contracts directly on official marketplaces; avoid off‑platform claims, “free otherdeeds,” or pressured buys; keep receipts and recordings; rely on community analysts and known scam‑callers (e.g., Bill Roberts) for triage.
  • AI misuse: AI voice changers and AI “pitch bots” are proliferating. One space had an AI persona efficiently pitching projects. Discussion: AI can augment founders but also risks displacing human trust—use judiciously and verify provenance.

Ecosystem, Status Tiers, and Collaboration

  • “Blue chips” vs indie: Poisonous contrasted Magic Eden’s “red badge” and OpenSea “blue chip” labeling—functionally similar status tiers conferring visibility. Indie projects are undervalued despite building significant tech and IRL.
  • VC behavior: Adam Weisman (follows, comments) buys top‑tier status assets (e.g., BAYC), not indie drops at $100—illustrating prestige‑driven capital flows.
  • Strategy: Scrooge aims to force recognition via undeniable IRL milestones (e.g., Drunken Lab expansions under UDS IP); “they’ll want some of that light” once achievements are public.
  • Bottom vs top dynamics: Bottom‑tier projects often fight each other; top‑tier collab more. The call: coordinate across aligned communities rather than infight.

Order Mutants (Bitcoin)

  • Positioning: “First mutated ape project on Bitcoin,” free mint (inscription fees only), strong emphasis on provenance (certificate‑like authenticity), distinguishing from derivative mints elsewhere. Current prices surpassed ~$100; team targets $500 floor by year‑end.
  • Meta Legends Colosseum: Order Mutants are slated to be the only Bitcoin project fighting in the Colosseum alongside Kid Called Beast, Doodles, BAYC. 3D assets nearly ready. More show coverage and tournaments (USD prizes; potential OM NFT rewards) expected.
  • Merch and community activation: Team spent ~$1,000 on hoodies distributed to members (e.g., Canada), which catalyzed organic marketing and user‑hosted spaces. Ongoing outreach to 3D artists (e.g., “3D Eric”) and potential beverage collabs.
  • Patent caution: A near‑suit episode (Cyber Ape Yacht Club vs BAYC game patent usage) resolved via collaboration; takeaway—check game patents early or risk litigation. General guidance: web3 game designs often overlap; process patents are narrow—do due diligence.

Merch, Fashion, and Digiphysical Activation

  • UDS hats: NFC chips embedded in UDS hats; scanning the badge links to the website—simple on‑chain/off‑chain activation.
  • Varsity jackets: UDS varsity logo treatments (colors: mauve, yellow, orange) with embroidery; intended for a music video.
  • “Duck Knuckles” coat: A Moose Knuckles‑inspired digital design adapted for ducks; aspiration to collab with the IRL brand or create the physical line.
  • Poisonous Punks biker jackets: Scrooge proposed leather patches with spikes for Harley‑style jackets; varsity for cherries (girls) and leather for punks (guys).
  • Runway play: Poisonous proposed flipping flow—design clothes for ducks digitally first, then put those pieces onto human models for a fashion show. Goal: elevate brand by landing a signature piece on a runway (Paris‑style precedents were cited).
  • Production stack and costs:
    • Embroidery machine ($5K) vs smaller Walmart machines ($500).
    • Heat press vs DTG (direct‑to‑garment) vs DTF (direct‑to‑film). DTG recommended for print quality; DTF easier for transfer rolls; screen printing is bulky (multi‑screen carousel, dryer belt).
    • Strategy: start small (home setup) with a teenager co‑running; scale to rented workspace and larger machines once revenue supports.
  • “Closet” activation: Planned digital closet with styling contests (“dress the duck”), IRL merch prizes, and judges (female designers, stylists)—creating fun onboarding and fashion engagement.

Raffles, Donations, and Event Logistics

  • Texas trip raffle: Prize covers two winners’ flights + room/board. Eligibility: wallets that minted among the last 20 mints. Proposed draw time: ~3 PM Eastern (Grape’s suggestion).
  • Draw execution: Do it live (fishbowl method) for transparency; intent to be fair despite joking about “rigging.” Cybermoon will co‑host/coordinate. Several minters say they can’t attend; there’s openness to reassigning if winners can’t go.
  • Xbox donations controversy: A donor publicly offered funds for multiple Xboxes to “redeem reputation,” which Scrooge criticized as performative. Decision: UDS will keep donated gear; separate donors (e.g., “Nones”/“Balls”) funded more units (total ~5).

Community, Culture, and Space Etiquette

  • Representation: UDS positions as an urban, Black‑led project in a predominantly white space; intent is inclusion and creating a new lane. Recognition of Snoop Dogg and culturally aligned entrants.
  • Etiquette:
    • UDS space rules: no hand‑raising requirements, no forced retweets; speak freely like “double Dutch.”
    • Broader spaces: seniority vs favoritism tension; Scrooge advocates de facto seniority for consistent space hosts so they aren’t sidelined. Jay Connects highlighted structured hosting (Jumbotron content, scheduling, sign‑ups).
    • Growth hack: Jay Connects suggests replying to trending non‑crypto topics to gain followers organically (30+/day), more efficient than “follow for follow” spaces.
  • “Nightcap” naming dispute: Another host (CAS) DM’d UDS participants asserting “original Nightcap.” Scrooge responded playfully by titling a space “Fake Nightcap” and directing traffic to CAS—call for peace and openness.
  • Money and friendships: Mixing business with friendships causes “poison”; treat spaces like business; when wrong, apologize and move on.
  • Token fatigue: Scrooge is wary of tokens; they’re a headache with complex community expectations and optics (example: “Throne” token; liquidity/effects debated).

AI, Automation, and the Near Future

  • Robots and drones: Observations of robots delivering food in Miami and speculation about drones delivering packages to apartment windows via building “slots.” NYC would likely obstruct or repurpose robots; cultural contrast noted.
  • Films and foresight: References to Terminator/iRobot as cautionary fiction now intersecting reality (autonomous cars, drones).

Lighter moments

  • Pop culture: Debates on He‑Man (new trailer), Thundercats (Panthro “coded Black”), Garfield, Pinky & The Brain, classic voice actors (Megatron/Frank Welker, Joker/Mark Hamill, Goliath/Gargoyles).
  • Strip club money stories: Humor about making a show of money, ATM fees, “rethrowing money,” lessons against showing off.

Actions, Decisions, and Next Steps

  • Raffle timing: Aim for ~3 PM Eastern today with Cybermoon; run live draw for two travel winners (Texas). Confirm logistics.
  • Dreams collection push: ~300 mints remaining; plan a February campaign timed to “quarterly waves” in spaces to sell out.
  • Merch runway: Advance the runway concept (digital‑to‑IRL), explore designer partnerships, and pursue Moose Knuckles‑style coat collaborations.
  • ApeChain licensing: A collaborator offered quick turnaround on ApeChain licensing (NY/MN and more). Scrooge to follow up for UDS licensing opportunities.
  • IRL presence: Consider MemeCon (Vegas) presence; coordinate satellite event with Poisonous; leverage leftover merch (hats, hoodies) from prior shows.
  • Nigeria engagement: Continue uplifting Shiny Girl; educate and encourage Nigerian community participation; plan future visit (Jollof rice promised!).
  • Scam prevention: Maintain contract‑verified purchases, avoid off‑platform deals and “free airdrops,” record interactions, and route suspected scammers to community analysts.

Risks and Cautions

  • Market/manipulation: Bots and undercutting floors; “free” allocations diluting price support.
  • Platform bias: Badge/status systems skew visibility.
  • Legal/regulatory: US tax handling for overseas charity; state‑level restrictions (e.g., Florida gambling on‑chain).
  • Patents/IP: Game mechanics and process patents—perform diligence to avoid infringement claims.
  • Social engineering and AI: Voice changers and AI pitches increase impersonation risk.

Key takeaways

  • UDS is doubling down on brand/IP and IRL expansions as a durable differentiator beyond mint sales.
  • Shiny Girl exemplifies web3 utility in the real world; broader support—particularly within Nigeria—is both a goal and a challenge.
  • Indie builders are underrated; recognition often follows IRL achievements and sustained collaboration.
  • Community health depends on scam vigilance, fair hosting etiquette, and valuing genuine support over performative gestures.
  • Merch and fashion are high‑velocity channels for growth and revenue; digital‑to‑physical activations can bridge audiences and make web3 tangible.